Meet the Team

Founder and Director of Operations for Bozeman, Montana-based Yellow Dog Flyfishing (www.yellowdogflyfishing.com), Jim began working in the fly fishing industry at the age of 14. Over the years, he has worked as a guide, sales rep, travel coordinator, and as past National Sales Manager for Scientific Anglers. He’s guided extensively in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, and has fished worldwide in over 50 different countries.

In 1999, Jim founded Yellow Dog, a fly fishing booking and travel company that has grown to become one of the largest and most recognized entities in sporting travel. As Yellow Dog’s Director, Jim spends a lot of time scouting and researching destinations throughout the world. Aside from his ongoing work with Yellow Dog, Jim is also the co-founder of Confluence Films, a film production company that created the fishing movies DRIFT (2008), RISE (2009), CONNECT (2011), WAYPOINTS (2013) and PROVIDENCE (2016).

In 2017, Jim was awarded the American Museum of Fly Fishing’s “Izaak Walton Award,” given out once a year to honor and celebrate individuals who live by the Compleat Angler philosophy. The award recognizes “a passion for the sport of fly fishing and involvement in the angling community that provides inspiration for others and promotes the legacy of leadership for future generations.” In 2018, Jim was the recipient of the annual “Lefty Kreh Industry Leadership Award,” presented to one individual each year by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA).

Jim’s writings and photos appeared in numerous magazines and publications, and his photo work and galleries can be viewed at www.klugphotos.com. Fly Fishing Belize (released in October 2014) is Jim’s first full-length book project. Jim lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife Hilary and children Carson, Finn, and Gus.

Yellow Dog co-owner Ian Davis has been involved in the fly fishing industry since the early 1990s. Having grown up in the Catskill Mountains, Ian later went on to attend the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied landscape painting. In the early 90s, he moved to Colorado, where he spent 12 years as the owner of Breckenridge Outfitters, a three-time “Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year” fly shop. After leaving Colorado in 2003, Ian joined the Yellow Dog team as co-owner and saltwater program director. He has fished extensively throughout the world in both fresh and saltwater. Ian is an accomplished photographer and handles all of the art and illustrations for Yellow Dog’s catalogs and other literature.

Tom has been with Yellow Dog for more than ten years, after first starting as an intern at the company straight after graduation from the University of Montana. He has literally worn every hat and worked in every position possible at Yellow Dog, and no one knows the inner-working of the company – or the fishing travel industry – better. After working for years in an overall sales role for the company, Tom’s role expanded in 2021 to help manage all of our programs at Yellow Dog. Originally from the Midwest, Tom is a graduate of the University of Montana and as fanatical an angler as anyone we’ve ever met. When not in the office, Tom can be found fishing one of the many backcountry streams Montana has to offer or sitting at the vise tying up some new creations. Over his years with Yellow Dog, Tom has traveled extensively throughout both fresh and saltwater destinations around the globe. If you attend any of the consumer shows where Yellow Dog is participating, chances are great that you’ll meet Tom in the Yellow Dog booth!

Alec Gerbec has guided in the Seychelles, Alaska and throughout the US West. In his former role of head guide for Alphonse Fishing Company, Alec spent years guiding throughout the Seychelles, giving him the ideal background and skill set for his role with Yellow Dog. Alec has also worked as a sales rep and saltwater fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants and is one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry when it comes to fly design and saltwater applications. When you’re ready for your next Indian Ocean adventure, reach out to Alec to get things started!

Jake is Yellow Dog’s program director for our U.S. programs. Originally from Virginia, Jake moved to Idaho in 2005 and started his career in the fly fishing industry at Henry’s Fork Anglers, one of the most well-known destination fly shops in the Western United States. After leaving Idaho at the beginning of 2013, he relocated to Salt Lake City and worked for a top fly fishing e-commerce retailer, and then as a sales representative for some of the top brands in the industry. Jake is an unbelievable source of knowledge on all things having to do with fly fishing, and he now looks forward to traveling the globe pursuing his passion and helping others to do the same.

Kristen Tripp is Yellow Dog’s Program Director for Cuba and Yellow Dog’s Bluewater Program. A love of travel, culture, the outdoors and angling were cultivated from growing up in Nepal with summers in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. With travel in her blood, Kristen has lived and traveled all over Latin and South America (including Chile, Argentina, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba) along with a long list of countries in other continents as well. Despite her global travel experience, she still maintains a healthy bucket list for future exploration. Kristen’s international travel experience combined with her Spanish language skills and an aptitude for complex trip logistics give her the skills necessary to provide travelers to Cuba with a fantastic experience. An angler, paddler, biker, hiker and general outdoor enthusiast, Kristen loves to get outside when possible to explore, and always loves the opportunity to put her Spanish to use. A “logistics addict” with a get-it-done attitude, you can bet that Kristen will work hard to take care of your trip details. If she ever lacks for an immediate answer to your questions, she will work hard to track down the information for you and can troubleshoot in two languages, a must for Cuba trips!

Jack was born in Southern California and grew up camping, surfing, and fishing with family and friends. When he graduated from high school he followed his love for the mountains to Colorado where he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Atmospheric and Ocean Science. After graduating, Jack chose to follow his passions to Argentina where he first guided fly fishing. For the next 5 years, Jack worked as a guide splitting his time between Argentina, Uruguay, Alaska, Mexico, and Wyoming, many years spending over 300 days on the water. Jack has guided for a variety of species including trout in Patagonia, Golden Dorado in the jungle, and striped marlin in Baja. Recently, after years of non-stop travel and remote living, Jack decided to step away from guiding and outfitting at destination operations. He is extremely grateful for the experiences he was able to have, the people he was able to meet, and the places he was able to see throughout his time as a guide. Jack is passionate about travel, fly fishing, and adventure—He finds great joy in helping others experience what he loves.

Sam grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina, where he spent almost all of his time in the outdoors. His passion for fishing led him to Wyoming, where he worked as a fly-fishing guide all throughout college. After graduation, he moved to Wyoming full-time, where he began to dedicate the rest of his career to the fishing industry. Since then, Sam has had extensive fishing industry experience working for the likes of WorldCast Anglers, Jackson Hole Fly-Fishing School, Rock Creek Anglers, Orvis, Simms Fishing Products, and two lodges in Patagonia, Argentina. He has also fished throughout the Yucatan and is eager to help others experience the excitement of traveling and fishing in Mexico. Sam brings a world of fishing knowledge, logistical expertise, and contagious passion to our team and will work tirelessly to ensure you have a lifetime trip. Sam enjoys seeking out live music and skiing all around Montana and Wyoming when not on the water.

Josh grew up at the base of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. He groomed his fly fishing skills in area freestones and tail-waters for trout, smallmouth, and striper. After college, he decided to join the navy. He took his fly rods with him on many adventures and became obsessed with traveling to fish until an unfortunate injury forced him to retire from service. This is when he began his career in the fly fishing industry.

Guiding in seven states from Alaska to North Carolina, he began developing fly fishing programs for luxury lodges. He became the fly fishing director for Blackberry Farm and Mountain in Tennessee, growing it into the largest lodge operation in the country. From there, he found himself at another Relais and Chateaux property outside of Telluride in Colorado, where he developed an in-house guide program for all activities at the resort.

Josh has been in Bozeman for two years, managing the lodging sales and outfitter at Montana Angler. He has hosted trips worldwide and fell in love with the Caribbean during his travels. He has spent extensive time in the Caribbean between Belize, Honduras, and the Bahamas.

Josh brings experience in not only fly fishing but luxury travel as well. You will find him volunteering for nonprofit organizations for disabled veterans when he is not in the office. When planning your next adventure, don’t hesitate to contact Josh for guidance in booking your Bahamas vacation!

Josh Mills is Yellow Dog’s Day Trip Director for all of our destinations. Originally from the mountains of southern California, Josh now lives in Livingston, Montana. Since moving to Montana Josh has explored Montana’s waters from the Bighorn to Kootenay, and most waters in between. Josh has worked in the fly-fishing industry for the past seven years, from guiding in Alaska to right here in Montana. He has in-depth knowledge and experience in the Rocky Mountain West as well as the Yucatan and Belize regions. Josh is Yellow Dog’s go-to expert if you are interested in a fly fishing trip to Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, or Mongolia. He is very passionate about fly fishing and strives to share his passion with anyone he comes across and will work hard to find you a day trip guide to suit your desires.

Carter handles the marketing for Yellow Dog. He is passionate about all things marketing and brand development, from analytics to search engine optimization. Before joining the Yellow Dog team, he worked for The Fish Hawk in Atlanta, Georgia, and for TroutHunter Lodge on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. He also assisted other fly fishing companies with marketing efforts. Originally from Atlanta, Carter spent much of his time fly fishing the Chattahoochee River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and throughout North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Carter has also fished throughout The Bahamas, Hawaii, Cuba, the Yucatan, Baja, Canada, and Belize. When he’s not in the office, you can find him searching for rising trout on the various streams throughout Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming or looking for tailing reds in his “home away from home” in South Carolina. 

A lifelong pisciphile, Bryan grew up fishing Cottonwood Creek and spent the bulk of his twenties on water, surfing Hawaii and working as a commercial fisherman in the Pacific and northern Atlantic. After mastering photography in the winter action sports industry, Bryan turned his lens to capturing fly fishing around the globe. He is the humble recipient of numerous awards and large-scale assignments, with work ranging from major magazine covers to billboards to groundbreaking cinematography shorts. Bryan has worked with Patagonia, Volvo Cars, Scott Fly Rods, Hatch Outdoors, TroutHunter Lodge, Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca Resorts, Rainy’s Flies, William Joseph, Trout Unlimited, Scientific Anglers, The Drake, FlyFish Journal, NW/SW Fly Fishing, and dozens of other brands, conservation groups and publications

Yellow Dog Operations Manager, Melissa Duff, grew up on the lakes of Michigan, before heading to the Mountains of Colorado to pursue a Business degree in both International Business & Marketing at CU Boulder. Between traveling, skiing, and exploring this great world, she spent her time in Boulder as a public relations media/travel specialist and a ski vacation group sales manager, before moving to Bozeman in 2002. She spent the next few decades broadening her Operations Management portfolio, working in everything from office administration, event planning, and business management to human resources, public relations, and executive development. She comes to us most recently from the hospitality industry, bringing with her many experiences as an accounting manager.

Her door is always open should you need a hand, so please don’t hesitate to call, email, or swing by the office at your convenience. She is here to make your Yellow Dog Fly Fishing experience the best it can be! Favorite drink? Paloma. Favorite River? Currently the Big Hole. Travel Style? Travel light, travel far. Favorite Destination Thus Far? Toss up between Costa Rica & Belize.

Evan, a native Detroiter, serves as Yellow Dog’s Financial Controller. He brings a unique & diverse background to the team. An entrepreneur, former college professor at Texas A&M University, and sustainable tourism researcher, he has contributed to various published articles and facilitated meetings with the Vietnamese National Administration of Tourism.

To date, he has spent most of his finance career at ski areas, with stops at Telluride Ski Resort & Sugar Bowl in Lake Tahoe. His passion for recreation, pushing his comfort zone & living in mountain communities is evident. 

Outside of work, you can find him on the river, mountain biking, or attempting to perform stand-up comedy.

Erika is the Program Assistant for the YD Bahamas and Alaska programs. Born on the west coast, Erika moved to the Bozeman area at a young age attending Bozeman High and Montana State University. She has a strong hospitality and operations background with a love for people. She has a strong passion for fishing that was passed down from her grandfather. She is a true Montanan at heart and enjoys all the outdoor activities the beautiful state has to offer. In her off time, you can find Erika fishing, camping, traveling, and getting lost in Montana.

Jen assists Yellow Dog’s financial team. Raised in Montana, in the small community of Big Timber, she grew up fishing the Yellowstone and Boulder rivers with her dad and brothers. She is a Montana State University alum who returned to Bozeman after taking some time to travel and explore outside of the state and country. When not at work, Jen can be found spending time with her family and being outside as much as possible!

Heather is a woman consumed by wanderlust, so her career must involve tourism, travel, and fly fishing. Heather started her career working for a fly fishing magazine over 15 years ago, which led her to a career that took her around the world, managing a fly-fishing lodge in Russia, planning fishing and diving trips for travelers in Belize, and lastly as the Director of Sales for a luxury guest ranch in Montana, Heather’s life revolves around adventure. 

She’s a people person with the skills and knowledge to manage the needs of her clients with remarkable ease and enthusiasm. With over a decade of experience working in the tourism and recreation industry, her focus is on client relations and troubleshooting to research and follow-through; she’s got every step of the process covered, covering every detail along the way. And although she loves to explore the far reaches of the planet, her heart is right here in Montana. 

Brenda joined the Yellow Dog Team the summer 2014. Brenda works as a Program Director Assistant and Itinerary Specialist for Belize, the Seychelles and many of Yellow Dog’s most exotic and off-the-grid offerings. Brenda also prides herself in being knowledgeable in all of the Yellow Dog programs in order to be of assistance to as many of our clients as possible. You can always count on Brenda to be upbeat, show care and attention for the details, and provide a friendly voice on the other end of the line with a happy, can-do attitude. When not in the office, Brenda loves being in the outdoors and on the water. She enjoys fishing with her husband Joe and hiking with her border collie Charlie.

Calli is an itinerary, logistical, and support guru for anglers traveling to Belize and many of Yellow Dog’s other locations. She comes to us with industry experience in fly fishing, marketing, and business. A graduate of the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, MN and a Minnesotan by heart, she eventually found her way via fly fishing to join us here in Bozeman. 

After graduation, she served under the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information & Athletic Communication at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, MN, simultaneously while earning her MBA. While working and studying she managed media and information services for 20 varsity sports programs, athletic website content—including post/pre-game write-ups, features stories, and more—and game-day operations, social media, and many other facets of an NCAA DIII college sports information department.

Her love of the outdoors was instilled in her as a child, spending countless hours at the family lake cabin in the land of 10,000 lakes. Calli has caught dozens of species, but it wasn’t until she went fly fishing in the Driftless area of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, that she knew her fishing passion was now in casting a fly rod to beautiful fish.

When not working to assist Yellow Dog’s customers, Calli enjoys discovering new waters and catching new species, backpacking into the mountains in search of high alpine trout, and participating in some occasional big-game rifle hunting. She also enjoys spending time with her siblings—of which she is an identical quadruplet.

We are thrilled to have Calli on the Yellow Dog team. Prior to joining Yellow Dog, she worked at Seacat Creative and The Rivers Edge West fly shop and we are excited to have her enthusiasm, skills, and experience working for our customers.

Chris is the Program Administrator for Cuba and South America. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, he grew up in the Rockies of Colorado. He graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado with a degree in Art, Art History, and Archaeology. His professional background within the small business and non-profit industries have instilled the importance of customer care. Chris and his wife, Eryn have since moved to Bozeman to be closer to family and the outdoor places they love. You can usually find Chris out on a trail or on the river. He enjoys trail running, XC skiing, backpacking, and of course, traveling the world. Relatively new to flyfishing, Chris is lucky to have married into a family of outstanding fly fishermen who has patiently taught him everything he knows!

Sarah is the Program Assistant for the Bahamas and Alaska programs with Yellow Dog. Originally from Chicago, she grew up spending her summers exploring the woods in northern Wisconsin. She graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine with a degree in Environmental Studies, and moved west in pursuit of fish, snow, and some bigger mountains to play in. Sarah’s professional interests lie in the outdoor industry, with experience working at camp in Wisconsin, leading hiking and backpacking trips both in New England and Montana, and working with competitive skiers and snowboarders in Vail. When not working, she can be found standing in a river, skiing, playing ultimate frisbee, or perfecting a new recipe in the kitchen.

Haley is the Program Administrator for the Mexico and Canada programs at Yellow Dog. Haley is a sixth-generation Montanan who grew up in the state’s capital, Helena. She attended both the University of Montana- Helena, and Montana State University earning an Associates of Applied Science. She joins our team with almost 10 years of banking experience. When she isn’t working enjoys skiing, camping, fishing, rafting, and hiking with her husband, Tony, and fur baby Mila.  

Steven is the general manager of our Bozeman-based fly shop. Originally from South Carolina, he moved here in an attempt to pursue the mountain lifestyle only to be drawn to a life on the water. One of the “fishiest” anglers in Bozeman, he has a special talent for getting fish on just about any fly patterns and color you’ll ever see. He’s always working hard to ensure anglers continue to come back to our Yellow Dog fly shop with stories of more, and bigger fish than the rest of us.

Teagan Jendro is a Montana native, growing up in Helena he developed his passion for fishing on the Missouri River. The MO turned him into a bit of a dry fly purist and he refuses to use an indicator from the time the first BWO hatches in the Spring until the last one hatches late in the Fall. He graduated from MSU with a degree in Fish & Wildlife Ecology and Management where his favorite class was, to no surprise, ichthyology. Teagan is constantly in search of challenging fishing opportunities and new waters. His favorite fish to target include big browns on small dries, carp, and redfish.

Xander grew up in the fly fishing Mecca of New Canaan, Connecticut. He has been fishing the rivers and lakes of Montana for the last fifteen years. He comes to Fins and Feathers after a brief fly-by at Colorado State University, where he studied a wee bit of business. Xander can be found in the shop and guiding on the river, where he has great enthusiasm for catching fish in whatever way the conditions demand, but especially on big streamers. He has traveled extensively to chase fish. Some of his favorite destinations are Mongolia, New Zealand, Bolivia, Belize, and the Seychelles. 

A 20-plus year veteran of the fly fishing and outdoor industries, Brooks honed his talents running stores for Patagonia where he was responsible for helping to pilot the largest expansion of the company’s direct to consumer business in it’s storied history, all while keeping his hands in helping steer funding to fisheries and coldwater conservation through working with Patagonia’s environmental initiatives. After relocating to Montana in 2020, Brooks started his own consulting business operating in the climate sphere as part of the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance and came on board with YDCCF in November. Brooks has been an avid fly angler for over 30 years, and loves plying small streams for wild native fish. He is also a writer and is currently working on his first book. He lives in Livingston with his wife and son.

John began his career in the fly fishing industry at the age of 16 when he was hired by Bob Jacklin to work at Jacklin’s Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana. He has guided fishing in Montana, Idaho, and Yellowstone National Park since 1998. John has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and worked for Idaho Fish and Game as a junior fisheries biologist after graduating. He guided fishing in Chile for five seasons and worked for Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures as the South American Program Director for over ten years. John’s role at Yellow Dog is now a field representative and trip host, where he continues to share his valuable knowledge and insights on all things fly fishing destination travel. 

With over forty years of experience fly fishing the world, Jeff has quite possibly fished more countries and caught more species on a fly rod than any person alive. He’s an active lecturer, published author, a well-known artist, and the subject of numerous films, articles and media projects. Jeff is constantly traveling and developing new techniques for catching the most exotic fish imaginable in places where even the most avid adventurers are hesitant to go. An IGFA World Record holder, Jeff has fished in over 55 countries and caught over 375 species of fish on a fly. The oldest member of the Yellow Dog Ambassador team, Jeff can now die happy having watched the Cubs finally win a World Series.

Raised in South Africa, Jako Lucas began fishing South Africa’s fresh and saltwater destinations at the age of four. He represented his country in various competitions throughout his youth before starting his career as a full-time guide in 2006. Along the way he expanded his horizons to include photography and film work, establishing his own action film production company, Captain Jack Films. Jako’s guide resume includes years of working in Mongolia, Norway, and all throughout the Indian Ocean; including time spent on Astove, Cosmoledo, Farquhar, Providence, and Alphonse. He’s fished all across the globe and has won numerous awards for his film work. 

Permit and steelhead addict Wil Flack has been living, guiding and working in Belize for the past 15 years. Wil owns Tres Pescados Fly Shop on Ambergris Caye, and recently opened the Belize Permit Club further to the south in Hopkins. Wil has fished all over the world, including Tahiti and French Polynesia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Fiji, Venezuela, the Bahamas, Australia, Hawaii, Japan and throughout the US West and Canada. He was featured in the 2013 Confluence Films project, Waypoints, searching for jungle payara and eating barbequed jungle rat with his friend Oliver White. When you finish up a day of fishing with Wil, he’ll gladly take a gin and tonic – with two olives.